Independent students
This Power Point presentation applies to those who
plan to study in France as:
-a student seeking a degree in France
-a student taking courses but not seeking a degree in
France
Important: If you are an independent student not yet accepted into
a French institution, please refer to the section of our website
entitled Students Applying to a French institution
Please note that the PASTEL system works best with:
a PC
Mozilla Firefox
Before you begin
 Make sure you have :
a scanned copy of your acceptance letter
(in Jpeg format and less than 300 KB)
a copy of your resume
What is an official acceptance letter?
A copy of the student’s official acceptance letter or
acknowledgment of enrollment, addressed to the
student and mentioning his or her full name, printed
on institutional letterhead and specifying the exact
dates (day, month, year) of the academic program
and including full contact information for the
individual issuing the offer or acknowledgment, as
well as the full address of the educational institution.
your passport number
a passport type picture that is in Jpeg format
and less than 50 KB
Proof of your most recent academic and professional
activities
Important reminders
Take the time to fill out the PASTEL application thoroughly and
correctly. Please keep in mind that your PASTEL application will
be viewed by the Campus France team as well as the visa section
at the consulate.
Once your PASTEL application has been validated and submitted,
you cannot make any changes
Fill out your PASTEL application
www.usa.campusfrance.org
Step 1: Go to our
website
Step 2: Click on “Register for PASTEL”
to create an account
Create your account
Email address
Re enter your email address
Re enter your password
Enter the images in the box
Your password must have 8 characters
and contain 3 of the following:
-an upper case letter
-a lower case letter
-a number
-a special character (it cannot be a
letter or number)
Click “validate”
Step 3: Click on the link sent to your email
address within 24 hours
This message notifies you that your account has been created
 An email has been sent to the email address you used to create your account
Open the email and click on the link within 24 hours in order to continue
filling out your PASTEL application.
Once you click on the link you will be taken to the Personal Information section
Step 4: Fill out every field
Warning: You will not be able to
change any of the information after
you click on “validate”
Enter your permanent or
school address (if you’re
currently in a postsecondary institution )
Be sure to use the
following format:
day/month/year
If you do not have a
US passport, choose
another form of ID.
Be sure to
include
your area
code
Select
English
Click “validate”
Step 5: Write down your Campus France
reference number
After you finish the Personal Information section, you will
receive the following message. You must now complete the
Campus France form section in your PASTEL application.
Don’t forget to write down your
Campus France reference
number!
Click “se connecter” to access your account
Step 6: Complete the Campus France form
Click “Campus France form”
Step 6A: Complete the Education Section
For instructions on how to complete the Education section, Click on the link that best
corresponds to your current situation:
A. I obtained my high school diploma and have not attended a post-secondary institution
B. I am currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution
C. I received a post-secondary diploma
Scenario A: I obtained my high school diploma and have not attended a
post-secondary institution.
In this section you will fill out information about your high school diploma.
To begin, click on the cross ()
Click “high school diploma” and “next”
 Fill out every field and then click “next”
Enter the year you obtained your high school diploma
For “institution” or “other institution,” enter the name of your high school
Select “Senior Year”
 Fill out every field and upload the acceptance letter for your program in
France and proof of your high school studies. Then click “save”
Choose the grading system used by your high school
Select “no distinction listed”
Enter your GPA
Leave blank
In this section you need to upload a scanned copy of your acceptance letter and
proof of your high school studies (ie. diploma, transcript)
Reminder: Each document must be in Jpeg format and no more than 300 KB.
Click on the cross () and follow the prompts.
Then click on “save”
 You will be taken back to this page
 Fill out the section below
If you do not have one of the scholarships listed, leave it blank
IMPORTANT: Click on this link to go to the next section, the Linguistics part
Scenario B: I am currently enrolled in post-secondary studies
Click “post-secondary studies”
 Fill out every field and then click “next”
Enter your current year of study or the year
For “institution” or “other institution,” enter the
name of your university
Choose your current year of study
 Fill out every field and upload your acceptance letter for your program in
France and proof of your post-secondary studies . Then click “validate”
Choose the grading system used by your university
Fill out the option that best corresponds to your field of study
Enter your GPA
Leave blank
In this section you need to upload a scanned copy of your acceptance letter and
proof of your post-secondary studies (ie. diploma, transcripts).
Reminder: Each document must be in Jpeg format and no more than 300 KB.
Click on the cross () and follow the prompts.
Then click on “save”
 You will be taken back to this page
 Fill out the section below
If you do not have one of the scholarships listed, leave it blank
Click “validate”
Scenario C: I received a post-secondary diploma
Select “diploma from post-secondary school” and
“next”
 Fill out every field and then click “next”
Enter the year you graduated
For “institution” or “other institution,” enter the
name of your university
Choose your highest level of education
obtained
 Fill out every field and upload your acceptance letter for your program in
France and proof of your post-secondary studies . Then click “validate”
Choose the grading system used by your university
Fill out the option that best corresponds to your field of study
Enter your GPA
Leave blank
In this section you need to upload a scanned copy of your acceptance letter and
proof of your post-secondary studies (ie. diploma, transcripts).
Reminder: Each document must be in Jpeg format and no more than 300 KB.
Click on the cross () and follow the prompts.
Then click on “save”
To create an activity: Click on the cross () and select either “internship” or
“professional experience”. Follow the prompts and upload a document as proof of
each activity. Reminder: Each document must be in Jpeg format and no more
than 300 KB. Then click on “save”
 You will be taken back to this page
 Fill out the section below
If you do not have one of the scholarships listed, leave it blank
Click “validate”
Step 6B: Complete the Linguistics Skills section
Click the “Linguistics Skills” tab
If you have been to France, click on the cross () and fill out this section
Do not fill out this section unless you have taken a French test, such as the TCF, DELF, DALF
Select the response that best responds to your
situation (level of French, number of hours of
French instruction etc…)
Click “validate”
Step 6C: Complete the Goals section
Click the “Goals” tab. Fill out this section and then click “validate” at the bottom of the page
Upload a picture. Make sure it
is a passport type picture that is
in Jpeg format and less than 50
KB.
Copy and paste your resume here
You must write at least 50 words for this
section. Be sure to describe the
course/program to which you have been
accepted.
You must write at least 50 words for this
section. Be sure to explain the link
between this course/program in France
and your current or future professional
plan.
You must write at least 150 words for this section. Be sure to explain why you
have enrolled in the course/program you selected and why you have chosen to
pursue your studies in France. What do you hope to achieve from this program?
How will it benefit you professionally or academically? Will you obtain a diploma
at the end of your studies?
If you are changing fields of
study, please fill out this section
and explain.
IMPORTANT: If you have been
accepted to a French language
program (FLE), you must also
include:
-your current level of French
-the level of French you hope
to obtain
-if you will take an official
French test (ie. TCF,
DELF/DALF)
Step 6D: Validate your Campus France form
Step 1: Click on the 4th tab
Step 2: Check that each section is complete. If one part is
incomplete, go back and enter the missing information.
Step 3: Click “validate”
IMPORTANT: A message will then appear asking you to fill out the My
Procedures section. Do not fill out this part.
Step 7: Send us the following documents
 After validating your PASTEL application, you must send us by postal mail:
a COPY of the acceptance letter you uploaded
a $100 money order made out to MCUFEU
a photocopy of your money order
Send them to us at:
Campus France
4101 Reservoir Rd NW
Washington, DC 20007
Please do not send them separately.
Be sure to include your Campus France reference number (USXXXXXX) on
your money order.
 For more information on acceptance letter requirements and how to
proceed in general, please consult the following link on our website
Step 8: Check your Campus France mailbox
 Regularly check your Campus France mailbox through PASTEL for your
confirmation email and proof of payment. Print copies for submission to the
French consulate
Within about three weeks after Campus France has received your postal mail, a Campus
France representative will review your file. If your file (acceptance letter and money order
sent via postal mail, AND online Campus France form) is complete, you will receive a
confirmation email – which starts with “Your Campus France file has been processed.” – in
your Campus France inbox in the PASTEL system.
Please note: Any missing materials (money order or acceptance letter) or an incomplete
online PASTEL application will delay the process. Check your Campus France inbox regularly
to see whether you need to take action.
Print out the (a) confirmation email, as well as the (b) proof of payment that you should
have received earlier in the process (a PDF attached to the email entitled “Une Quittance
est disponible”), as these are among the several documents required by the French
consulate.
How to contact us
 If you have questions regarding the PASTEL application or the Campus France
process, be sure to check the FAQ section on our website before contacting
us. Many of your questions can be answered here!
 If you can’t find the answer to your question, you can send us an email
via your PASTEL account (click on Send a Message)